Mainland to continue with policies toward Taiwan: official

The Chinese mainland will continue with its policies toward Taiwan affairs and will look to progress with plans on future development, a mainland official said on Saturday.

Sun Yafu, head of the mainland-based Research Center for Relations across the Taiwan Strait, made the remarks at a symposium held in Taipei to mark the 20th anniversary of the 1992 Consensus and cross-Strait ties.

The event was attended by experts in this field, and also major political figures from both Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang Party and the opposition Democratic Progressive Party.

Sun, who is also deputy chief of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said cross-Strait ties have achieved significant transition and a series of breakthroughs over the last four years.

The mainland and Taiwan are now closer to each other in many fields despite some interior and exterior obstacles, leaving less space for the "Taiwan independence" view, he said.

"Practices have proven that our policies of seeking peaceful development of cross-Strait relations are effective. The facts have proven that peaceful development of the ties is a correct path as it meets the common aspirations of the peoples across the Strait, the overall interests of the Chinese nation, and the tide of the era as well," said Sun.

The official said President Hu Jintao's report at the 18th CPC National Congress last month outlined implications and goals for peaceful development of cross-Strait ties.

Hu said in the report that "we must put into full practice the important thought of peaceful growth of cross-Strait relations, consolidate and strengthen the political, economic, cultural and social foundation for such growth, and create even better conditions for achieving peaceful reunification."

Sun said four major principles should be adhered to, including upholding the one-China principle, further promoting cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, promoting the unity of the people of the two sides, and resolutely opposing "Taiwan independence."

The official said he hoped the two sides abide by the common stance of opposing "Taiwan independence" and adhering to the 1992 Consensus, enhancing mutual identity under the one-China framework, further promoting mutual political trust and seeking common ground while reserving differences. He said this would maintain the correct momentum for the development of cross-Strait relations.

In the meantime, Sun added that the mainland will further oppose "Taiwan independence" activities in any form in a bid to safeguard the necessary conditions and stable environment for cross-Strait relations.